trips to London,
irretrievably involved himself by gambling to a large extent. This false
step completed what his reckless profusion had already begun. He found
himself always on the losing side, but the indulgence of this fatal
propensity had become a passion, the excitement necessary to his
existence. The management of his estates had always been entrusted
entirely to a steward, who, as his master's fortunes declined, was
rapidly rising in wealth and consequence. Algernon never troubled
himself to enquire into the real state of his finances, whilst Johnstone
continued to furnish him with money to gratify all the whims and wants
of the passing moment.

The embarrassed state of the property was unknown to his young
relatives, who deemed his treasures, like those of the celebrated
Abulcasem, inexhaustible. Godfrey, it is true, had latterly received
some hints from Johnstone how matters stood, but his mind was so wholly
occupied with his pursuit of Juliet Whitmore, and the unpleasant
predicament in which he was placed by his unfortunate connexion with
Mary Mathews, that he had banished the disagreeable subject from his
thoughts.

The storm which had been long gathering at length burst. Algernon was
arrested, his property seized by the sheriff, himself removed to the
jail of the county town of ----. Thither Anthony followed him, anxious
to alleviate by his presence the deep dejection into which his Uncle had
fallen, and to offer that heartfelt sympathy so precious to the wounded
pride of the sufferer.

The gay and joyous disposition of Algernon Hurdlestone yielded to the
pressure of misfortune. His mind bowed to the heavy stroke, and he gave
himself up to misery. His numerous creditors assailed him on all sides
with their harassing importunities; and in his dire distress he applied
to his rich brother, and, humbly for him, entreated a temporary loan of
two thousand pounds until his affairs could be adjusted, and the
property sold. This application, as might have been expected, was
insultingly rejected on the part of the miser.

Rendered desperate by his situation, Algernon made a second attempt, and
pleaded the expense he had been at in bringing up and educating his son,
and demanded a moderate remuneration for the same. To this ill-judged
application, Mark Hurdlestone returned for answer, "That he had not
forced his son upon his protection; that Algernon had pleased himself in
adopting the boy; that he had warned him